A TEENAGER idolised by the children he taught football skills to has died in a car crash.

Ben Morgan, 18, from Arley Walk, Ettiley Heath, Sandbach, was killed when the car he was driving was involved in a collision with two other vehicles on the Wheelock Bypass.

The footballer, who played for Sandbach United, had passed his driving test less than a week earlier.

Two male passengers were also seriously injured in the accident on Sunday morning and were taken to Leighton Hospital. No one in the other vehicles was hurt.

Saul Furse, football development officer at Sandbach United, paid tribute to the teenager, who was heavily involved in coaching at the Sandbach academy.

He said: 'Ben was a good natured lad with a burning desire to win.

'He talked with pride about his younger brother's footballing progress and had got involved in running junior football with me.

'He was adored by the primary school players who dreamt of being able to copy his skills and will be sadly missed by all those who played with him.'

Ben worked a at Greenhill Finance on Moston Road, Sandbach. nThe collision occurred on the A534 Wheelock Bypass at 10.28am on Sunday and involved a silver Peugeot, which Ben was driving, a Mitsubishi Shogun and a Mercedes.

Anyone who saw the accident should contact PC Peter Benningwood on 01244